Panhalakaji Caves are situated in the
Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri (IAST:Ratnāgirī ; ət̪n̪aːɡiɾiː is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri District in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan division of Maharashtra. The city is known for ...
district of
Maharashtra
Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
state, about 160 km south of
Mumbai. This cave complex has around 30
Buddhist and
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
caves.
The
Hinayana sect began carving caves in 3rd century AD, beginning with the
stupa
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In Buddhism, circumamb ...
in the current Cave 5.
The caves have inscriptions in
Brahmi and
Devanagari script.
In the 10–11th century AD another Buddhist group, a
Vajrayana sect, established cave 10 with their deities ''Akshobhya'' and ''Mahachandaroshana''; and strengthened their practice in that region. ''Shiva'' and ''Ganpatya'' worshiping started at the site during
Silahara
The Shilahara Kingdom (IAST: Śilāhāra; also Sinhara, Shailahara, Shrilara, and Silara) was a royal dynasty that established itself in northern and southern Konkan in 8th century CE, present-day Mumbai and Southern Maharashtra (Kolhapur) du ...
rule.
There are total 29 caves out of which 28 are situated on the right bank of mou tain stream Kotjai.
A list of important caves includes:
*Cave 10 has and image of ''Maha-Chandraroshana''. This deity is shown on the
stupa
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In Buddhism, circumamb ...
which signifies the connection of Ratnagiri with ancient Buddhist sites of
Orissa.
*Cave 14 has deities of ''Nath Pantha.''
*Cave 19 has shivlinga in it. It has
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
scriptures on its ceiling.
*Cave 29 was used by ''Nath Pantha'' and was renamed as ''Gaur Lena.''
File:Cave temple at panhaalekaji.jpg, Pillars
File:Shilppatta.jpg, Frieze with elephants
File:Panhalakaji Caves.jpg, Stone pillar
File:Panhalakaji Caves1.jpg, Stone carvings depicting various Mahasiddhas
File:Panhalakaji Caves3.jpg, Stone carvings
How to reach
*By train: Nearest Rail station is
Khed, Ratnagiri.
*By road: Located on NH 4 highway near
Dapoli.
Further reading
References
External links
Map of Panhalakaji Caves
Buddhist caves in India
Caves of Maharashtra
Indian rock-cut architecture
Former populated places in India
Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India
Caves containing pictograms in India
Tourist attractions in Ratnagiri district
{{Buddhism-stub